“I am fed up of people coming in and using us as a stepping stone, I am looking for people like Kels, We don’t want to sell anyone, that’s the stance, We want to keep everyone together and build”- Mark Robins issues stern transfer warning to Coventry stars ahead of Summer transfer window

Coventry’s boss Robins has given an insight into how the Sky Blues’ transfer plans will go this summer.

Coventry City have had a fine season, despite not bettering their league finish or last year and missing out on the Championship play-offs – 2023/24 can be a season that many fans feel happy about.

The Sky Blues finished inside the top 10, and while they haven’t been able to have the chance of appearing at Wembley through the play-offs, they still had the delight of appearing there in the FA Cup semi-final. But now the excitement has calmed, and the dust has settled on this season, Mark Robins has been able to look back and assess what needs doing over the summer to make 2024/25 even more successful.

The long-time Coventry boss has had to suffer the pain of many injuries to his squad, meaning they have ultimately come up short in the league due to a lack of quality depth.

He is set to lose three key players on free transfers this summer, those being Simon Moore, long-term servant Liam Kelly and the talented figure of Callum O’Hare, as well as the expiry of the loan deal for defender Luis Binks.

When asked by the Coventry Telegraph if there are plans to recruit replacements for these players as well as just how many players he would be looking at in general over the summer, Robins confirmed that it would be the case.

With fears over the likes of Ben Sheaf, Ellis Simms and Haji Wright being of interest to other clubs, Robins revealed though that it would take huge bids for the club to even consider cashing in, much like Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer last summer.

Speaking to CoventryLive’s Andy Turner, Robins said, “We’re in a strong position from that perspective, so if anyone were to go it would take record bids.

“We don’t want to sell anyone, that’s the stance. We want to keep everyone together and build.”

Coventry’s record sale was set last summer when former Brighton player Victor Gyokeres departed the Midlands-based side for Sporting CP of Portugal last summer, for a reported €20 million (£17.17 million). That means from Robins’ words it would take more than that to see any of his stars moved on this summer, and you’d imagine that is unlikely to happen.

Mark Robins wants commitment from incoming players

Robins also stated that if his long-term plan was going to succeed, he would need a great level of commitment from anyone who makes the move to CV6.

Continuing on, he said: “I am fed up with people coming in and using us as a stepping stone… If people want to come in and use us as a stepping stone then nah.”

“I am looking for people who, like Kels (Liam Kelly), and I said it in the dressing room, who came in and said ‘this is my home, this is what I am doing and I am going to help this club get to where it wants to get to.’

“Whilst he never set out to stay for seven years, because I don’t think he’d have ever thought that in his wildest dreams, as I never did. But ultimately there’s a player there who bought into it, mind, body and soul.

“That’s what I am looking for because that’s the way you are going to take it to the next level; not because people come in and try and get what they can and clear off at the first opportunity. It’s not ideal and you can’t build anything like that.”

“I think really you have to look at it because if you’re a trading club, which every club has to be, then it has to be done methodically and in a way that is sustainable and helps you become sustainable. And that’s the ultimate aim of any football club, I suppose.”

Despite the sterness and anger that Mark Robins perhaps spoke with in his interview, it can only be taken as a positive for Coventry fans.

They can find solace in his statements knowing that he won’t stand for any gutting of the club by sides from higher up.

Typically, it is so common for a team that does well in both the league and cup to be preyed upon by clubs with more financial might.

However, with Robins making it clear now to the public, as well as to his players, that he has a project in mind and that he won’t stand for players departing for small fees, there can be a collective sigh of relief.

So, Coventry fans will not have to worry about replacing the combined 38 goals of Ellis Simms and Haji Wright, nor will they have to sweat too much about replacing the quality of Ben Sheaf in midfield, as they seem to have a manager that wants to continue his success that has been built, and a hierarchy that align with that vision too.